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Edith Bell, Lane Carroll, Will Disney, Richard France, Rossie Harris ... see more see more... , Lloyd Hollar , Harold W. Jones , Robert Karlowsky , Stephen Liska , Lynn Lowry , A.C. MacDonald , Robert J. McCully , W.G. McMillan , Ned Schmidtke , Harry Spillman , Leland Starnes , W.L. Thunhurst Jr. , S. William Hinzman , Richard Liberty , Kim Smith , Tony Scott , Harold Wayne Jones , Will MacMillan

George Romero's The Crazies involves a biochemical warfare virus code-named "Trixie" that gets into the water supply of Evans City, PA. It has two equally unpleasant effects, either killing its victim... read more read more...s outright or driving them hopelessly insane. The military descends on the town like a plague of locusts, quarantining the area and dragging the frightened citizens from their homes to be corralled at the local high school while the "powers that be" figure out what to do. Human interest revolves around firefighting Nam vet David and his pregnant wife, Judy, who try to escape the quarantine, the virus, and the militant redneck locals whom Romero portrays as even more fearsome than the soldiers. There's also an infected father and daughter, played by Richard Liberty (Day of the Dead) and pretty Lynn Lowry (Shivers), who gives the film's best performance as an innocent waif who mourns the passing of her own sanity. ~ Robert Firsching, Rovi

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46% liked it

9,369 ratings

Critics

53% liked it

15 critics

R, 1 hr. 43 min.

Directed by: George A. Romero

Release Date: January 1, 1973

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DVD Release Date: April 29, 2003

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Flixster Reviews (521)

  • garyX
    April 27, 2011
    garyX
    A small American town is quarantined by the military to prevent the spread of an extremely virulent contagion that induces madness and death. Made in between Romero's Night and Dawn Of The Dead films, The Crazies is almost like a stepping stone that provides an insight into what ... read moremight have happened when the zombie plague started to spread. Unfortunately zombies are a damn sight more interesting than people going a bit batshit and as a result, this very low budget B-movie struggles to make any impact at all. It bounces between behind the scenes of the put upon military and its scientists trying to find a cure, and a group of mildly annoying civilians trying to escape the quarantine zone which amounts to the film being 50% men in uniform shouting at each other and 50% people running around in the woods shooting guns. And that's it. There are none of the clever analogies or subtexts (or plot for that matter) you find in the Dead series and it soon becomes extremely tiresome. It's clearly an influential film, the opening scenes obviously inspiring those of the Dawn Of The Dead remake and the "fast zombie" format of modern horror was clearly born here but there's just not enough to it to warrant an hour and three quarters of your time. The fact is, it's just plain boring.
  • ajv2688
    December 29, 2010
    ajv2688
    First of all, Romero reuses the plot of Night of the Living Dead, but sets it outside instead. I don't know what the point of this movie is supposed to be, why didn't he just make another zombie movie? And why did they remake this?
  • Godless
    October 22, 2010
    Godless
    I think I watch Romero movies just so I can give them 1 star.
  • SirPant
    September 3, 2010
    SirPant
    The Crazies is an old school horror/thriller cult classic. Done on a shoe-string budget with all the B-Movie trimmings. Unlike most classic horror films though, a remake, or a contemporary version of, is most welcome and I look forward to seeing what they've done with it. The cha... read moreracter of Clank should really have more recognition though, Harold Wayne Jones's sly one-liners and sarcastic glances are brilliant!
  • kenstachnik
    September 2, 2010
    kenstachnik
    Really really really really really really manic.
  • TheDudeLebowski65
    June 8, 2010
    TheDudeLebowski65
    After Romero directed his legendary film Night Of The Living Dead in 1968, he shifted into different territory and made quite a few flops in the 70's. One of them was an overlooked jewel of Horror film called The Crazies about people being exposed to a bio chemical weapon that ma... read morekes them crazy. Some reviews of this classic have suggested that Danny Boyle director of the excellent zombie film 28 Days Later took inspiration from this film. From start to finish this film feels like a military propaganda film designed to scare the viewer, thats how it felt like while I watched it. I very much enjoyed this film, although some viewers will find it long and boring before the film finishes. It's true that some parts of the film drags on, but when things happen, they sure as hell happen. This film shouldn't be ignored it should be seen and enjoyed.
  • ythelastman89
    November 18, 2009
    ythelastman89
    I think the fact that this movie has people in nutty gas masks is amazing enough, but it's actually an ultra realistic look at the spread of infection. It just sort of freaks you out that something like a quarantine can occur anywhere. The actors did a really good job at making m... read moree officially convinced that this was believable, and not a pulp story. It is somewhat dated, but it just makes the movie all the more charming.
  • flixsterman
    November 12, 2009
    flixsterman
    Cult 'classic' with lots of low-budget effects and a few unintentionally funny moments. Keep your expectations low and don't take it too seriously.
  • DrZeek
    October 15, 2009
    DrZeek
    Col. Peckem: No one gets in or out of the town is that clear!

    A thriller from director and zombie master George Romero. I really like a lot of how this film was made in terms of its editing and production, however it's a shame that more advantage with the premise wasn't taken.... read more

    The basic premise surrounds a town that has been hit by a biological weapon that causes death and permanent insanity. The military arrives soon enough to quarantine the entire town, but is forced to kill anyone trying to escape. The film has two subplots, one of which follows the efforts of five particular civilians to stay alive during the disaster. The other involves the efforts of political and military leaders to contain the epidemic of violent insanity induced by the weapon.

    Patient: We were asleep. They just dragged us out of the house.

    The way this film is assemble is pretty effective. The editing makes a good balance between both plots, with Romero's static style of filmmaking creating a jarring environment to keep cutting through. The repeated use of soundtrack queues, call backs to other moments, and juxtaposition of images certainly informed me that Romero had a good idea for how he wanted to make this film and have it work effectively. Of course, being a Romero film, there is also social commentary at work throughout the film as well, mainly involving the work of the military in charge. Not being a Romero zombie film, it was neat to see his bag of tricks at work in a different kind of film, even if it is still the thriller/horror territory.

    The problems I had with this film involve its somewhat slow pace and lack of general craziness that the title and premise implies. I'm sure with a bigger budget (which the upcoming remake of course has) and some clearer story direction, the film could have played out much better. However, for a B-flick, I did find the performances to be quite strong throughout, something Romero usually does a good enough job with.

    Neat premise, that could use some work.

    Scientist: We'll find a cure, sooner or later.
    Col. Peckem: Hmph. Sooner or later.
  • matertenebraum
    August 25, 2009
    matertenebraum
    Confusion, panic, desperation, hopelessness: George Romero's The Crazies not only employs the same dynamic as his 1979 classic Dawn of the Dead, but also has a similar style and pacing, making it an interesting companion piece to the director's long running zombie series. Technic... read moreally, the film might lack the polish of Romero's later work (the editing, in particular, ain't that great), and it is perhaps a bit too talkative at times, but for fans of the Pittsburgh auteur, it should still be considered a 'must-see' movie.

    As in Dawn of the Dead, society is facing collapse in the wake of a deadly epidemic that has been caused by the accidental release of a biological weapon; however in this film, the result of the contagion is not a plague of flesh-eating corpses, but rather a madness that can cause victims to commit sudden acts of violence.

    Whilst the army struggles to cover up their mistake and prevent further contamination, and a lone scientist (Dawn of the Dead's Richard France) attempts to formulate a vaccine, two firefighters (Will MacMillan and Harold Wayne Jones) try to lead a small group of people (including Day of the Dead's Richard Liberty and cult actress Lynn Lowry) to safety, with the biggest threat coming from the ominous, trigger-happy, HazMat-suited soldiers roaming the countryside.

    Once again Romero cleverly combines political commentary with visceral action, delivering an intelligent horror that not only provides excitement, tension, splatter, and a delightfully downbeat ending, but also something for the mind to chew over: although seeing a seemingly meek, old woman stabbing a soldier to death with her knitting needles is undeniably shocking, the real horror comes from the distinct possibility of such a situation occurring, and the extreme procedures implemented by the government following the outbreak, which include having a bomber with a nuclear payload circling the area in preparation for the worst eventuality (interestingly, the same 'last resort' was used to contain the zombie outbreak in the excellent 1985 comedy/horror Return of the Living Dead, a film inextricably linked to Romero's work).

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Critic Reviews

Scott Weinberg
April 6, 2010
Scott Weinberg, FEARnet

It may be a second-tier Romero film, but hell, it's still a Romero film. Full Review

Walter Chaw
March 3, 2010
Walter Chaw, Film Freak Central

It's tough for a dyed-in-the-wool George Romero apologist to observe that a film of Romero's in good repute is an amateurish, exploitative piece of shit Full Review

David Nusair
February 21, 2010
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews

An uncommonly interminable piece of work... Full Review

Bill Gibron
February 21, 2010
Bill Gibron, PopMatters

While George Romero would come to redefine horror once again with his brilliant Dawn of the Dead, this interesting action thriller illustrates the talent it took to be such a consistent genre visionary. Full Review

Fernando F. Croce
September 5, 2009
Fernando F. Croce, CinePassion

Even with no ghouls, Romero exposes a nightmare Full Review

Jeffrey M. Anderson
August 21, 2008
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid

Though it sounds like it ought to have more in the way of exploitation and gore, Romero shoots it straight, hoping his social commentary will carry it. It works superbly. Full Review

Rob Gonsalves
April 9, 2007
Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com

Edited at a sprint, the movie is often shocking, occasionally gory, and never boring. Full Review

Dennis Schwartz
October 28, 2006
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Thought-provoking horror film about the effects of a biochemical disaster. Full Review

Widgett Walls
August 19, 2004
Widgett Walls, Needcoffee.com

Outbreak movie that devolves into yet another zombie knockoff.

John Beifuss
July 14, 2003
John Beifuss, Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN)

The movies Romero produced during his heyday were as ferocious, uncompromising and provocative as those of Peckinpah, Altman and Scorsese...

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